ASPERGER SYNDROME, PARENTAL LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY

ASPERGER SYNDROME, PARENTAL LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY by Sharon Link

This work explores advocacy strategies for parents to support their Asperger Syndrome child in a public school setting, particularly in a classroom environment. This work represents a maternal act of love for my own Asperger Syndrome child and is an exploration of my own journey to develop better advocacy strategies from a theoretically informed perspective. A detailed explanation of Asperger Syndrome demonstrates how individuals with this disorder require advocacy. My own personal illustration creates a connection between parental advocacy and the formation of personal leadership. Michael Powers, a noted expert in Autistic Disorders and Director of the Center for Children with Special Needs located in Tolland, Connecticut underscores my experience with a theoretical overview. Peter Senge’s work and three of his five disciplines explore how parents might construct a personal framework to interpret Powers’ work. Senge is nationally renowned and is the Director for the Center of Organizational Learning. His work helped me construct a “learningful” framework to better construct personal leadership and a parental advocacy model. Leadership formation strengthens parents’ credibility to advocate. Leadership strengthens voice. Voice strengthens advocacy.

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